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AVIGNON, France, July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The 7th Annual International Grenache Day a.k.a #GrenacheDay on Friday September 16th will be one of the biggest days of 2016 for wine lovers as it marks the worldwide day-long celebration of everything Grenache, one of the most widely planted and least known red grapes in the world. For many Grenachistas across the wine universe, #GrenacheDay has become a call to arms to raise a glass or open a bottle for more than just a day.

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For the first time, the International Grenache Association will join forces with the Wines of Garnacha, a Spanish contingent of Grenachistas, to celebrate #GarnachaDay on September 23, highlighted by a #GrenacheDay event at Wine Riot in NYC.

For the past seven years, fans of the Great Grape of Grenache have met-up on the third Friday of September in real time or in cyberspace to share their passion. They join tens of thousands of Grenache fans from around the world, posting photobombs across social media, detailing inspired menus in blog posts, and sharing local celebrations on the #GrenacheDay Google MyMaps

#GrenacheDay Fun:

• Plan and share your event with the world on the #GrenacheDay Google MyMap which brings together a Global Gathering of Grenachistas. List Your Event Here!
• Visit Zazzle.com/grenache to buy your #GrenacheDay t-shirts, pins, wine glasses and more- Keep Calm and Drink Grenache on September 16 with great swag OR ORDER HERE.
• Join the conversation on Twitter with #GrenacheDay or follow the fun on @grenache_global.
• Post your #GrenacheDay photos and videos on Facebook.com/GrenacheDay, and Instagram or Pinterest wearing colorful purple or red clothing and drinking your favorite Grenache.
• Join the International Grenache Association to learn about upcoming events.

 You can find these and other Grenachy suggestions on www.grenacheday.com.

"#GrenacheDay is a time to tweet, toast, taste and talk about Grenache," says Grenache Association Executive Director Marlene Angeloz from her perch overlooking kilometers of Grenache vines in the Rhone Valley. "Grenache is a grape which enhances wines by exuding its deep-rooted terroir and multi-layered rich palate in every velvety sip."

According to Bob Lindquist, legendary California winemaker of cult classic Qupé wines, and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner of the Rhone Rangers - an exclusive group of winemakers, industry suppliers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers across the US, "The Rhone Rangers proudly supports #GrenacheDay on September 16. What a fun way for all wine lovers to celebrate a grape that spans the globe, makes beautiful wines and brings pleasure to so many."

Wine retailer Wine Exchange owner Kyle Meyer thinks #GrenacheDay is the perfect day to invest in Grenache-based wines, "At some point many a collector may sell off their Napa Cabernet or Bordeaux, but they always save and drink their Chateauneufs!"

Grenache, which goes by many names including Garnacha, Cannonau, Alicante and Garnaxta, is planted on 6 of the 7 continents with Antarctica definitely being BYOB territory. It puts a lush pink blush in rosé, brings a deeper complexity to Châteauneuf-du-Pape (where typically 80% of the wine is made from Grenache), and puts the G into GSM blends of Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre; best of all, its voluptuous mouthfeel stands on its own.

The increase in the number of worldwide wine classes and tastings, websites and blogs across the world devoted to wine is a global testament to a new breed of wine lover, eager to explore quality wines and learn to differentiate between grapes and vintages. With the advent of new vineyards and plantings and growing wine sales, even supermarket wine aisles have begun to section Grenache wines, along with other grape varietals like Merlot and Chardonnay.

With all that excitement, it's no wonder why, #GrenacheDay has become a worldwide phenomenon that has just wine lovers getting in on the fun.

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EDITORS NOTES:
The Grenache Association is a grass-roots not-for-profit organization operated by volunteers who are passionate about wine and wine education, and open to lovers of fine wine across the world. Their goal is to educate wine lovers and promote Grenache through workshops and wine tastings, and to sustain it in the vineyards and in the glass!

GA in Action:

• Run #GrenacheDay - an International Day of Grenache every third Friday in September;
• GrenacheNights during Vinisud, VinExpo, ProWein, Alimentaria, London Wine Fair;
• The Grenache Symposium week long workshops, tastings and panels with hundreds of professionals from 22 countries;
• Commented tastings by sommeliers, the Grenache masterclasses;
• Worldwide network of wine professionals;
• G-Think workshops: work, exchange and share technical information between winemakers;
• Partnerships with key wine associations.

How it all Began!
International #GrenacheDay was launched in 2010 following the first International Grenache Symposium at La Verriere's vineyard in France. The symposium was founded by wine gurus Steven Spurrier and Michel Bettane, Walter McKinlay of Domaine de Mourchon, and Nicole Rolet of Chene Bleu wines.

Grenache is prevalent in the South of France, in regions such as the Southern Rhone (including Châteauneuf-du-Pape), Provence, Languedoc and Roussillon, as well as many of the best regions in Spain such as Priorat, Campo de Borja, Calatayud, and Sardegna in Italy. It is also popular in Australia and the US, and grown in more than a dozen other countries around the world including China.

This eco-superstar has drought-resistant deep-rooted vines and is particularly well-suited to withstand climate change. More wine enthusiasts are discovering Grenache's unique ability to transmit its "terroir" and exploring this rich variety.

SOURCE The Grenache Association